Ore-treating apparatus.



T. J. PENNINGTON.

ORE TREATING APPARATUS:

APPLICATIONHLED MAY 24.1917.

"1,294,531. Patented Feb. 18,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l I N EN TOR.

WITNESS" 7T1! Penn/277%.

( ATTORNEY.

T. J. PENNINGTON.

ORE TREATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1917.

1,294,531. Patented Feb. 18, 1919' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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T1. PENNINGTON'. ORE TREATlNG APPARATUS. -A'PPLICAT.ION FILED MAY 24. i917.

1,294,531. Pdtented' Feb. 18, 1919.

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M M. B y flaw/20M v FFICD THOMAS J. PENNINGTON, OF NAUG-ATUCK. CONNECTICUT.

ORE-TREATING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 24. 1917.

Be it: known that l. 'tuonas J. Pl'INNIXQ- TON, a rit'izen oi the l nit'cd States, residiinl at. Xaugatuelt. in the count ot- New Haven and State of (onuerticutg have invented certain new and useful improvements in (tre Treat ing Apparatus. of which the following is a speeitieation.

This intention relates to an improved method for the treatment of metalli't'erous ores, and more particularly to improvements in apparatus used for the separation of sultid particles from gangue b v what is com- 11i0l1l \'.l\'ll()\\'ll as the flotation proeess.

The tlotation processes at present in use, may be divided into two classes. to-\vit,- a class in which the material under treatment is eontinuouslv fed into a contain r and continuously discharged from the same at a fixed ratio. and a class in which the material is fed into a container at regular intervals and permitted to remain during a treatment period ot predetermined length.

The processes of the first-mentioned ciass have the recognized disadvantage that the periods durin which the material is subjected to the. mixing action by which the tinely ground orepulp im n'egnated with air and one ornlore frothingagents, is insullieient to prmiuce a clean separation of the valuable constituents of the ore from th worthless gangue and that in e mse plence retreatment: ot the residue is imperative to save the desired percentage oi values contained in the pulp.

The serum! class of ttotation proeesses, while superior to those ot the tirst class, in that the intermixiug' action may be prolonged until a thorough einulsitication of the ore-pulp, air and trothin r agent is obtained, are objectionable by reason ol the loss ot time between the intermittent treatments which naturally results in reduring: the capacity ot the plant and increasing the cost of operating the same.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a method of ore separation in which a continuous feed and eontinuous discharge are combined with a prolonged treatment of the material during periods of variable prei stablished lengths.

Another object; of the invention is to provide for the improved separation process, an apparatus whieh being automatie in its action, requires but little attention. and still a further object of the invention resides 1n Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 19H).

Serial No. 170.596.

providing means for lliiltnllh'iilfl air into the material under treatment.

The above and other objects. all of which will fully appear in the course (it the folloivin; description. l attain h providing a plurality ofseparated'units'which by means of an automatic teed distributing mechanism are suecessivelv tilled \vith ore-pulp together with a suitable trot-hing agent. i

The truth produced in the various units is as usual collected by means of an overflow at the top thereof and the gangrue set-t ling out ot the material under treatmentis discharged lrv an automatic contrivance \vhieh operates in eonjunetion with the feeding mechanism.

The automatic devices above referred to are relatively arranged so that, one of "the units of the series is emptying while the pre ceding one which had previously been emptied. is being supplied with fresh pulp and while the contents of the. remaining units of the. series are being suhjeeted to the froth in; action which preferably eonsists in heat,- ing volumes 0t air continuously entering the units. into the pulp h v mechanieal agitation.

t'rothine' agent, such as oil, is introduced into the pulp by any suitable means either belore or after it is fed into the containers and tlushiin; water may if so desired he injected into the same to expedite the disrharge of gangue.

It will be seen from the above that. my improved method consists l'n'ielly in dividing the material under treatment. into a number of separated portions which under control ot an automatic inerhanism for the periodic feed of pulp and discharge of gangue, are suhieeted to the frothing treatment during periods sutliciently long: to insure a clean separation of the values contained in the ore-pulp from the gangue. it being understood that the construction of the automatic mechanism permits' of certain adjustments by which these periods may be shortened 01 extended within determinate limit-s.

My improved method thus combines all the advantages of the continuous and intermio tent processes without any of the objectionahle. features hereiulaafore referred to.

In the accompanying drawings in thertv rious views of which like parts are similarly designated,

Figure 1 represents a sectional plan view of an apparatus suitable for use in the practiee of m im )roved method of ore se arradriving pinion 36 and which meshes with' shown in the drawings comprises a series of j upright cylindricalcontainers 2 which are arranged in a circle in contiguous relation to each other.

A vertical shaft 3 whose axis passes through the center of the circle in which the axes of the containers are disposed,is mounted for rotation in a stepbox 4 and carries adjacent its upper end, a worm-wheel 5 which through the intermediary ,of a worm 6 is operatively connected with a conveniently located source of power. Y

The shaft extends loo'selythrough the'hub of a gear-wheel Twhich is mounted for rotation upon a b'earing'35'in engagement with a pinions 8 on tubular shafts 9 which are suspended from bearings on frames 10 supported upon-the containers.

The shafts 9 whose axes are coincident with those of the containers in which they are suspended, carry at their lower ends, agitating paddles 12 which-extend radially above the botto'msurfaces' of the containersand which are provided with downwardly slanting faces to. assist in "moving the c'0'n-' tents of the containers toward central outlets 13 in their slightly sloping bottom surfaces.

The tubular shafts are connected with-a source of air-supply by a pipe 14 provided with branches 15 which connect with the rotating shafts by means of stufiing boxes 16.

The containers have adjacent their upper edges'interiorly disposed launders 17 for the overflow of froth produced in the flotation process in which the apparatus is employed.

Circular, perforated water-pipes 18 may be placed above the different l'aunders for the. purpose of breaking the foam or froth as itoverflows the peripheral edges thereof and each launder has a discharge spout which connects with-a conveniently disposed.

receiver not shown in the drawings.

Placed concentrically around the driving shaft 3 is an annular feed-launder 19 which is divided into compartm'entsQO which in number and relative positions correspond with the series of containers.

Each compartment has an outlet-conduit 21 which connects with the respective container at a point below its overflow-launder, and the bottom of each compartment slopes toward its outlet to facilitate the outflow of material under treatment.

In the operation of the machine, ore-pulp is fed into the compartments of the launder the lower end of its sloping bottom has tion with their outlets.

spout 23 for the discharge of its liquid contents. 4

The flow through the hereinbefore re ferred to outlets 13 in the bottoms of the containers, is controlled ,by rotary plugvalves 21 in housings which are fixed beneath the containers in permanent connec- The valves which normally are in a closed position, are intermittently opened during I through the opened outlets of the containers,

valves 30 which normally obstruct the flow of water from a manifold 31 into the pipes 29, are connected for synchronous movement with the discharge valves of the respective containers as shown in the drawings.

In the operation of the apparatus, the rotating wheel-7 imparts a comparatively rapid, rotary motion to the shafts of the agitating devices, ore-pulp contained in the hopper is together with a suitable frothing agent, fed successively into the compartments of the feed-launder which discharge into the correspondin containers, and air is admitted to the tubuFar shafts 9 which are open at their lower ends for the injection of air into the contents of the containers.

The'violent agitation of the pulp in'the containers and the simultaneous aeration of the same, produce a froth composed of bubbles of oil and air in which the sulfid particles of the ore are entrapped.

The froth rising to the surface of the material overflows into the peripheral launrespective outlet is opened while waterfisadmitted to the upper portion of the container past the simultaneously opened valve 30.

After apredetermined interval during whichthe container is entirely emptied, it

valve is closed and a new charge of pulp i fed into the container from the correspond ing compartment of the launder. I

'llhecoiinerating elements of the present u""'utiou are arranged so that While one container is being empeied in the above do sczrloe manner, the flotation process is continuously carried on in all the other containers of the series, with the exception of that preceding. the emptying one with reference to the direction of rotation of the driving shaft which. is being supplied with pulp from the corresponding compartment of the launderi lutliis manner each container is intermittently emptied and refilled at predetermined intervals which may be varied by accelerating or retarding the rotation of the driving shaft'which by the action of its radial arm upon the cams of the valvestems, open IJOIllLfllRQX'S in regular succession.

The primary advantage obtained in the operation the apparatus is that the flotstion process is carried on to the desired extent without interruption, in a which .uced not. exceeo that occupied by an, ordinary floici on tank in which the PI'OC& must necessa ily lac periodically discontinued or the discharge of gaugue supply of fresh pulp.

llluoizher advantage of the invention an the apparatus is automatic in its action quires litle or no attention While in lion.

e supply and discharge to and from the of containers is continuous, the pulp- -.e containers is constant during the I period of treatment and this treatmeno-period can be varied to suit the nature of the ore changing Lille speed of room more oi the driving shaft.

s and closes the valves of the different It. Will be understood that variations in the construction and relative arrangement of. the cooperative elements comprised in the ore-treating apparatus as above-described and shown in the drawings, may be resorted to Within the spiritof my invention as set, forth in the following claims:

1. Ore separating apparatus comprising a series of tanks each having an outlet, valves controlling said outlets, mechanism to intermittently open and close said valves, including driven membeis in circular arrangement separately connected, with the valves, and a rotary driving member acting successively upon said driven members, and valves controlling a supply of liquid to said tanks, connected to move in conjunction with the fii'st-1ne1itirmed valves.

:2. Ore separating apparatus comprising u SEIlQS'Of tanks each havingan outletfor settling matter, valves controlling said outlets, mechanism to intermittently open and close said valves, including driven members in circular arrangement, separately c0nnected with the valves, a rotary shaft, and a driving member on said shaft acting successively upon said driven members, a feedlaunder divided into compartments which are separately connected with. the tanks, and a feed-hopper on the shaft having an outlet pal-talents of said launder.

I11 testimony whereof I have alfixed my signature in presence of two W tnesses.

THOMAS J; PENN 1N GTON Witnesses HARRY GATTi, N oems 'BUGHTER.

to supply material successively t0 the 601R: 

